Lake Balboa Trail

Lake Balboa Trail is a 1.4 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Los Angeles, CA. The trail is good for all skill levels and primarily used for hiking, walking, trail running, and road biking. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.

1.4 miles16 feetLoop

dogs on leash

kid friendly

hiking

road biking

trail running

walking

lake

This lake gets a fair amount of foot traffic but is relaxing to be by the water. The main photo shown for this lake is not in fact lake balboa. It is a nearby lake located st the Japanese Gardens in the Sepulveda dam basin area about a half mile east of lake balboa. The gardens lake walk is superb for relaxation and meditative meandering.

My mom used to take me here all the time when I was a kid. Very pretty. You can rent paddle boats for the lake in the summer. Nice picnic spot. I think there are some jungle gyms too. Very spacious. Not the cleanest, cuz there are birds and geese everywhere, but I still like it.

If Lake Balboa is the heart of the Sepulveda Basin parks then the Japanese Garden is the crown. Walking the Japanese Garden is not a trail per se but it can be a highlight of any track that runs by Woodley Park. Check their website closely for open hours and make sure that time is allotted for viewing this extraordinary landscape treat of ponds, paths, flora, koi, hardscape, and birds.

Lake Balboa is the centerpiece of a great network of trails for walkers, bikers, and jiggers alike. The air is clean, the paths flat, and the flora and fauna diverse. The birds are extraordinary and varied - ducks, (wild) geese, cranes, and egrets have found calm sanctuary around the man made lake.